So, here's the question of the day . . .
DID MAYOR SLY LOSE POINTS AMONG WALDO/BROOKSIDE AND SOUTH KANSAS CITY CROWDS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THEIR COMPLAINING ABOUT DISTRICT LINES WAS A BIG DEAL?!?!
Certainly, most people thought his tirade was entertaining and well-justified . . . Except a few folks in the who didn't get their way.
As of yet, nobody has tried to spin this into a "Mayor Sly only loves the Blacks and Latinos" debate . . . The Mayor's call for citywide unity seemed to thwarted that bit of rhetoric . . . For now.
Still . . . There's no denying that this was a vocal crew of folks who opposed this move. In a very rare instance, the Mayor flexed his political muscles and didn't seem quite so charismatic in a demand for support . . . I tend to think it was a good move but only time will tell if there are hurt feelings from this local voting ruckus.
LINKS:
With outburst, James pushes redistricting through
Council approves new district map
Kansas City, by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller.
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------
I'm goin to, Kansas City, Kansas City here I come.
I'm goin to Kansas City, the politics are such a scrum.
They got a crazy little tax base, and the money, well they got none.
-----------------------------------
I'll be standin on a corner, 12th street and vine.
I'll be checkin my 6, cause, they'll kill ya for a dime.
I'll be taken lotsa rounds man, they make such a whine.
-----------------------------------
Well I might take a train, I might take a plane, but if I have to wal, I'm gonna get there just the same!
I'm goin to Johnson County, Johnson County here I come.
They gotta peaceful safe life there, and I'm gonna get me some.
Unless and until the residents of KCMO actually look at themselves as a city instead of just a loose confederation of interests groups, neighborhoods, and ethnic groups all fighting over who gets what even as the pie gets smallera nd smaller, KCMO will never be able to provide any leadership or even stability to the region. Nobody else around cares at all about who's up and who's down and who got the latest contract at city hall. And they ceratinly don't care about redrawing the district lines, becasue they see the endless series of duds and deadbeats who are elected to the council wherever the lines are drawn.
ReplyDeleteSly has talked about the success of the entire city, but he has a long way to go to change a status quo which has existed for the benefit of a realtive few for a very long time.
Way too many egos. way too little actual accomplishment, and too much money wasted.
KC exists to pay employees, give funds to developers and support a few favored non profits. Why wouldn't citizens be complaining? Why should they unite to support more of the same?
ReplyDeleteIt was John Sharp who got in the way. Those other people were all used by him for his own career goals.
ReplyDeleteJohn Sharp was just trying to hold on to the abandoned Bannister Mall site. Sharp lives in the past. The Mayor was right Sharp just wanted to be center of attention.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anybody want to hold that piece of shit. South KC doesn't need it?
ReplyDeleteLOL Chuck! Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteExactly who is the Mayor helping?
ReplyDeleteHint: The same development attorneys Cleaver and Kay helped.
The 1st, 2nd and 6th districts would be better off just leaving KC and becoming their own communities with their own governments. The transition may be tough, but the benefits are numerous. City Hall is and has been out of touch with those districts for years. The city itself is too big not to fail. Constant infrastructure problems are dragging us all down. At 318 sq miles the town is just too damn big to have viable coverage of all departments. Chop off North of the river and south of 89th and you have a more manageable size.
ReplyDeleteThe current system of govt sucks. We need smaller districts with more representation.
I find it ironic that there are those who say we need to be one KC but yet advocate for the map they passed that segregates the city more and is a political favor to race-peddlers like Clinton Adams. This thing is a turd no matter what you call it.
ReplyDelete